Preserving Foundation Skills in Modern and Contemporary Fine Arts
Centering on foundational mastery, the Vietnam University of Fine Arts launched an exclusive exhibition highlighting its long-standing focus on deep structural drawing and spatial anatomy. Running from September 9 to 18 at the university museum, the event forms a key part of the celebrations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first class at the historic Indochina Fine Arts School. The collection spans multiple generations of students, displaying classroom exercises carefully preserved by the institution over the decades.
The showcased curriculum inherits its academic rigor directly from the Indochina Fine Arts legacy, utilizing diverse mediums such as pencil, charcoal, gouache, and oil paints. Students advance through specialized modules from still-life studies to complex full-body human figures and structural block forms, equipping them with essential spatial skills. For painters and graphic artists, these exercises focus on the two-dimensional plane, while sculpture students tackle complex three-dimensional forms.
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Addressing modern debates surrounding academic training, Master of Sculpture Doan Van Bang, Head of the Sculpture Department, defended the classical methodology. "There is a view that academic drawing is outdated, but in reality, any creation, whether modern or contemporary, can rarely achieve excellence without a solid, core foundation in drawing," Bang stated. This disciplined approach ensures that future artists possess the flexible technique required to push boundaries and experiment confidently in later professional work.
Dr. Dang Thi Phong Lan, Rector of the university, reinforced this stance by noting that the drawing and round-sculpture programs remain the definitive strengths of the institution's curriculum. The university plans to digitize its archival collections to better protect student data from previous eras, ensuring that these historical benchmarks remain accessible for future academic research and institutional benchmarking.